Game apparatus



June 28, 7-

nllll Filed May 1'7. 1926 W. A. FELTON GAME APPARATUS Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

WALTER FELTON, OF NEWBURGH, YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed May 17,

My present invention pertains to game apparatus, and it has for its object the provision of an entertaining game designed to be played by two persons and which while highly interesting is simple and inexpensive in construction. 7 v

The practical advantages of the invention will be fully understood. from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompany- 1 ing and forming part of this specification,

in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the board comprised in my improvement.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the playing' pieces comprised in the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the playing pieces of another group comprised in the apparatus.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

The board of my novel apparatus is numbered 1, and on the board are suitably provided cruciform locations for playing pieces, the said cruciform locations being numbered 2 and being of a contrasting color to the face of the board 1. By way of example, the board 1 may have a white face and the cruciform locations'2 may be colored red. The cruciform locations 2 are arranged in series crosswise of the board and the locations, 2 are spaced apart transversely of. the board. and in the present and preferred arrangement the upper and lower series comprises three locations each, the middle series come prises five locations 2, and the transverse series of locations between the middle series and the upper and lower series are reduced in number as they recede from the middle series, that is to say, the series at opposite sides of the middle series have four locations 2 each, the next outer transverse series have three locations 2 each, and the next transverse series have two locations 2 each. It will also be noticed that the cruciform locations 2 are arranged in inclined series with the cruciform locations in said inclined series closely adjacent each other or with the ends of their arms abutting.

The major playing piece or pieces of the apparatus are numbered 4 and the minor playing pieces are numbered 5. There will be three of the playing pieces 4 for each player or six in all, and there will be five of the playing pieces 5 for each player or ten 1926. Serial No. 109,717.

of said pieces 5 in all. I would also have it understood that the playing pieces 4 for one player will be colored blue on their upper sides as designated by 6 and the upper sides of the playing pieces '4-for the other player will be of a contrasting color. Each playing piece 4, however, is provided on its upper side with a cruciform-figure 7 and the cruciform figures 70f all of the pieces 4 will be ofthe same color and the same color as the cruciform locations 2, that is to say, red. Manifestly the red figures 7 on the playing pieces 4 will enable a player to position the cruciform figures 7 coincident with the cruciform locations 2 and will also enable the player to keep the-playing .pieces 4 on the board and to move said playing pieces 4 in orderly fashion so that at all times the cruciform figures 7 will be coincident with the cruciform locations 2. I would also have it understood that'while the five playing pieces 5 for one player will be of a certain color,

blue, for instance, the playing piece 5 of the other player will be of .a contrasting color so that the playing pieces allotted to one player may be readily distinguished from the playing pieces allotted to the other player.

For the guidance of the players and to facilitate the understanding of the two games for which the apparatus is adapted, I prefer to equip the board upon its face with eight capital letters K and four capital letters E, the said letters being relatively arranged as indicated in Figure 1, and being of a color in contrast to that of the face of the board 1.

In the use of the apparatus for the playing of a game that I denominate the three K game, the playing pieces 4 are placed on the three front locations as designated by 4 in Figure 1, and the playing pieces 5 are placed on the five rear locations as designated by 5 in said figure. The game is started by the player to whom is allotted the blue playing pieces 4 and 5, and it will be understood that jumps are made as in the g game of checkers, by the player moving or leaving a playing piece of the opponent with an unguarded location 2 behind him, and a succession of jumps may be made, and, according to the rules of the game, all jumps must be taken or the playingpiece removed from the board 1. All pieces go forward until the middle row with a K at each end is reached. On moving across the board any opposing pieces that are eXposed-i. e., so placed as to leave an empty location 2 behind it must be jumped. A series of jumps may be made andiall jumps must be made or piece refusing jumps shallbe removed from game (jumps are made as in checkers). The object of each player in the first stage of the game will be to guard his own 4 "row and try to raise the value of his own pieces by reaching opposing players 4 row also to remove as many of the opponents pieces as possible by careful moving of his own pieces. Also players should try to protect the pieces L as they double in value on reaching the 4* row of the opponent as'they then are entitled to be moved in any directioni. e., become great knights, while the pieces 5 must'be returned to theirrespective 4 rowbefore having the capacity indicated. WVhen two skillful players areplaying, the game often depends on the pieces 5 reaching their respective 4 row as the knights (pieces 4) have been jumped and removed from play. However a player can often let a piece 5 be jumped tojump a knightor piece 5 in return, as he then gains in value of pieces.

I would also have it understood that a game which I have denominated Empire may be played with my novel apparatus, the said game being started with three pieces such as 5 in each set of locations designated 5, and five pieces such as 4 in the upright sets of location 5 next adjacent to the inner locations 5. The player to whom is allotted blue pieces moves first, and all pieces are moved forward, only until the opposing players knight cross space is reached Where they are raised in value (the pieces 5 then are entitled to be moved toward the players own K space or 5 set where the piece becomes a great knight, entitled to be moved in any direction). The object of' the players will he to jump-all opposing'pieces possible (jumps being made as in checkers). Also to guard the K space from opposing player so that he cannot raise the value of his pieces, and to move pieces so that opponent has to uncover his K space so that a player may raise his pieces in value. Also. to. avoid landing his pieces on the locations marked by E as there are forfeit spaces and on a players moving or jumping on these spaces his pieces are removed from' play. (This applies to the K man or knight only), as great knights have power to go back out again. The player who can force opposing player to uncover the K space and raise his pieces in value first will usually win the game as he then can come back down the board and drive opponents pieces so that they may be jumped from either rear or forward plays. Care must be taken on coming back down the board with the K-knight (pieces 5 raised in value from K man) asthis piece can be moved in direc tion of own K space only and an opposing piece may follow and jump it.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patcut, is

A game apparatus comprising a board having on its face sets of cruciform locations contrasting in color to the face of the board; the said cruciform locations being arranged in sets at right angles to the side edges of the board and with the several sets in parallelism and with the cruciform locations in each set spaced apart, and also with the said cruciform locations arranged; in

diagonal sets with the confronting ends of the cruciform locations in the diagonal sets joined to each other, and major and minor playing pieces adapted to bemovcd on the locations of the board; the major playing pieces being provided'on their faces with cruciform figures, to coincidewith the cruci-- form configuration of the locations on the board and to thereby conduce to movement of said playing pieces in orderly fashion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WALTER- ALFRED FELTON. 

